One Chapter

Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson

What a fantastic uplifting book! Bernard is different, I mean really different. He’s a bird with really long wings. While all the other birds are learning how to fly, Bernard is grounded. He’s tried to fly but it didn’t work out. He’s had a few friends who have encouraged him but things just haven’t worked out. Eventually, everyone leaves him as they’re birds, as they fly off to find themselves new homes which leaves Bernard sad and then, I’m sad just thinking about him.

One evening Bernard hears something that changes his life forever. Bernard discovers that the noise is someone who is more heartbroken than he is. Wanting to help, Bernard wraps his long wings around the sobbing orangutan and gives him a huge hug. This hug is a huge success for the both of them.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was great that Bernard tried to come up with solutions to his issue and that he became emotional during this time. We can’t deny our feelings and Bernard definitely felt many emotions coming to terms with his gift. I loved that Bernard went out of his way to find the source of the noise when he heard it and that he did what came nature to him, when he saw that it was the orangutan. The ending was fantastic and it left a huge smile on my face. I need this book! It reminded me of the book, Donna O’Neeshuck Was Chased by Some Cows which I have loved for years.

You and Me and the Wishing Tree by Nancy Tillman

It was the most magical day. It began when they awoke and found the orange wishing tree on their front lawn. The parent and child knew it was special as they both made their wishes. Only, it was the child who spoke with excitement their wish and instantly, that wish came true.

Filled with enthusiasm and intensity, the pair is flying through the sky. Witnessing the world from up high, the scenes were breathtaking. The child continues to make wishes that are granted, as their day is filled with magical events that only a child could dream of. It’s quite a fun-filled day but the day must end, as both the child and the parent got their wishes from that magical, orange wishing tree.

What a beautiful picture book! What would you wish for? If you could have a whole day of wishes, what would you do? I enjoyed the bright detailed illustrations in this book and sweet storyline that accompanied it. A great storybook to read to any child.

Little Fox and the Wild Imagination by Jorma Taccone

I think Little Fox showed his father, Poppa Fox that he also some great imagination in this cute picture book by Jorma Taccone. I had to laugh as I read this book as I could totally relate to how Poppa Fox felt. As a parent, or just a human being, you feel like you’re doing the right thing, having fun and then bam, you’re thinking aww, what just happened?

I thought it was sweet when Poppa Fox played pretend with Little Fox on their way home from school. Having a rough day at school, Little Fox needed something to make him happy again and his father was doing just that. Using father’s imagination, the two of them, pretended to be race cars as they raced off to the bus stop. As the night wore on, this game of pretend continued, only now Little Fox was getting more involved. What started out as a fun, friendly game was now turning violent, messy and involved, leaving Poppa Fox picking up the pieces.

I liked how the book progressed from a fun friendly game to an intense involved event. I think the illustrations fit perfectly with the text as you could see this transformation and the drama unfolded right before your eyes. The text fonts were great too as they varied in sizes, shapes and colors depending on the situation. I enjoyed Poppa Fox patience as he handled the situation with his son, Little Fox. I had to laugh when Little Fox wanted his father to read to him 5,000 books before he went to bed. Now, wouldn’t that be a nice library for a child to have in their house? There is some violence in the book as they play pretend, so you may want to consider this, if that bothers you but it is pretend. I thought this was a fun, entertaining read and I highly recommend it.

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

This is another interactive book by Tom Fletcher but instead of you completing a variety of tasks, you will actually be manipulating this book. Why would you do such a thing? You have to get this cute, little monster out of the book, before he totally destroys it. This monster is ripping and eating the pages in the book!

Shake it! Spin it! Make some noise! Wiggle the book! These are just some of the actions you will be doing to the book to try to get this monster to leave. The monster seems to be losing his balance and later, he looks to be falling around as you try your other tactics on him. He’s very stubborn. With simple illustrations, the facial expressions on little monster were great.

This is a fun entertaining book and I can see kids really getting into it. Be ready for some exciting times while reading this one. I thought the ending was really cute and this book is definitely “a keeper.”

There’s an Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

This is an interactive book so get ready! Do you want to be on Santa’s Nice List and get presents? Of course, most individuals would say yes! If you’re one of them, whatever you do, don’t be tricked by Elf and do something naughty. If you pass the test and end up on Santa’s Nice List, at the end of the book, you get an Official Nice List Certificate.

Inside this book, Elf will be asking you complete a few tasks. Some of these activities will be cute and some will be “naughty.” From blowing a Christmas Kiss (nice), to repeating a comment that Elf says that includes the word butt (naughty), Elf will give you a handful of instructions that he’d like you to follow.

I think kids would enjoy this book and I think that reading it to a group of kids, the reaction would be even better. I don’t know how well the rereading of this book would be overtime as I feel the novelty of it would wear off. Perhaps if you only read it during the holiday season, it would continue to be a great read.

The Heaven of Animals by Nancy Tillman

Yes, there is a heaven designed specially for animals and it’s everything you’ve ever imagined it to be. In this beautifully written book, you’ll see some of what heaven has to offer our four-legged loved ones when they leave this physical world behind. With fantastic illustrations, this picture book can help ease the pain and offer comfort to those who pick it up.

Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

The illustrations inside this book are wonderful. I enjoyed how the author included the child in each of the interesting images. From playing in the ocean with a pair of elephants, to jumping on a trampoline with a kangaroo, to playing hide-n-seek with a snow rabbit on a winter day, all of the pictures in this children’s book have a playful, magical feeling to them.

This book is about love and how that love continues wherever someone may travel. I have to admit that the first couple pages felt quirky to me as I read them. I didn’t quite understand exactly what the author was trying to say. It wasn’t until a few pages later that I finally understood where this book was headed and I ended up enjoying the book. I liked that this book rhymed, as it helps creates the mood and the rhyming didn’t feel forced. I thought this was a sweet book with a great message.

You’re All Kinds Of Wonderful by Nancy Tillman

You are perfect just the way you are. I believe that’s what every parent tries to instill in their child but it’s hard when their child is trying to figure out exactly who “they are.”

This is a book geared for children about loving yourself as you are. It’s about being yourself and that it’s okay to be unique, you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. As you’re searching for who you are, this might take some time. You’re not going to find out who you are overnight. You might have to experiment and try something and see if that fits. Does that feel right? If not, then it’s not you?

I thought this sentence says a lot as a child attempts to find what themselves.

“And sometimes a someone will give you the feeling

that his bells and whistles are much more appealing.”

I liked how the author made this topic easier for children to understand. I thought the illustrations were humorous and entertaining to look at.

Digging For Words by Angela Burke Kunkel

It all began when Jose spotted this thick book while out on his route. After digging the book out of the trash, Jose was hooked. He had been whisked away from his life as a garbage collector, as he read the words on the pages and now, as he drove through the streets of Bogota, he looked for other books that individuals had discarded and he carried them home in his truck.

It wasn’t long before Jose was bringing home stacks of books after his nightly route. Jose has his favorites among the stacks that he has rescued but he also just loves adding to the collection. We will refer to him as Senor Jose.

Let me introduce you to a younger Jose, first Jose. He looks forward to Saturdays. On Saturday, all the neighborhood children get up and they run down the street. It might look like they’re in a race and they are, to some extent. They’re racing to Paradise. With a warm smile on his face, Senor Jose is holding open the door to Paradise while the children race inside. The children don’t know exactly what Paradise holds for them this Saturday but they do know that they will love the journey they will experience while they are there.

What a beautiful tribute to this wonderful man who saved hundreds of discarded books from the trash. He thought not only of himself when he discovered these treasures but he opened his doors, so that others could enjoy his riches too. His story is inspiring, it emits an energy as you’re reading it. The illustrations are attractive and they add to the storyline. There’s an informative Author’s Note, Selected Online Sources, and Featured Books sections located in the back of the book that should be read also. 5 stars

The Fort by Laura Perdew

What’s a pirate to do when she walks up her gangway and discovers that someone has been aboard her ship? It seems as if a Prince has come aboard while she was away and tried to take over her ship. Grabbing everything royal, she rids the ship of anything that’s not the life of a buccaneer and she’s ready to find her treasure.

What’s a Prince to do when he walks up to his moat and discovers that someone has invaded his castle? He has some work to do before he can enjoy his royal feast with his friends and he was looking forward to a day of music and fun. Prince finds one of his invitations on the floor with a map scribbled on it. He finds other Pirate items inside his castle and he now must dispose of them so he can get his party started.

How funny! The two children are using the same fort in the woods, only they’re using it for different scenarios, at two different times. One child uses the fort as a castle and the other one is using it as a ship. I had to think that eventually they’d run into each other at the fort and they did. How are they doing to work this out? It’s quite easy but what really happens, is something quite different than I had expected. The illustrations are bright and colorful. If you look at the fort, it really is basic, it’s the children that make it into something special. A fun, entertaining read that kids will love. A book that kids will be able to relate to also. 5 stars